Riot police were forced to step in to protect Manchester United fans arriving in Turkey ahead of tonight's Champions League match against Galatasaray. Local media reports suggested up to 500 Galatasaray supporters gathered at Ataturk airport in Istanbul. Footage has emerged on YouTube which shows missiles being thrown and flares being set off by boisterous fans as Reds supporters arrived last night.

Riot police were forced to step in to protect Manchester United fans arriving in Turkey ahead of tonight's Champions League match against Galatasaray.

Local media reports suggested up to 500 Galatasaray supporters gathered at Ataturk airport in Istanbul. Footage has emerged on YouTube which shows missiles being thrown and flares being set off by boisterous fans as Reds supporters arrived last night.

Footage has emerged on YouTube which shows missiles being thrown and flares being set off by boisterous fans as Reds supporters arrived last night.

Watch the footage below ...

Police used tear gas to disperse the crowd, according to local news reports. There were no reports of any injuries.

Officials from Galatasaray had earlier welcomed the official Manchester United party, which avoided any confrontation with local supporters by using another airport exit.

Security manager Shane Bluck, 41, from St Helens, who flew out to Turkey on Sunday, told the ME.N: "We've seen the flip-side really. We've been drinking with a whole load of Galatasaray fans last night and they were pretty OK. Some other fans were upset with them and kicked off with them for giving us their scarves. Apart from that, it's been alright.

"We heard there was a hostile reception at the airport last night but we came the night before when there was no trouble at all. They are a really passionate bunch of fans. I almost wish we had a little bit more of that passion. We have it at away games. It's a real experience over here."

United supporters have become used to hostile receptions in Turkey. Now infamous 'Welcome to Hell' banners were unfurled during previous visits in 1993 and 1994.

The tie is a dead rubber for United as the Reds are already through to the next stage of the competition, having won their first four matches.

The tie is more important to Galatasaray, who only have four points so far.

A spokesman from the Foreign and Commonwealth office said: "We are aware of reports of an incident at Istanbul airport on the evening of 19 November.

"The Man Utd playing squad were not affected and there were no reports of arrest or injuries.

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